Electric switch



Oct. 12, 1948..

l. E. MCCABE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1945 IN VEN TOR. IRA E. M 5CASE ATTORNEY Patented Qct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEnnnc'raic swrrcn m E. McCabe, Chicago, 111.

Application March 9,1945, Serial No. 581,747

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-152) The present invention relatesto'irn-provementsin electric switches and more particularly to theconstruction of tilting electric mercury tube switches.

Switches 01 the type to which this invention is directed find many usesand are particularly adapted for use in torches for life rafts, doughnutlii'e preservers, buoys, and the like, and for other uses where the sameare subject to roll. pitching, or other similar movement. The same areused in connection with electric lamps and are included in a circuithaving one or more batteries so that the same upon movement intooperative closed position close the circuit to the electric lamp whichwill cause the same to be continually illuminated, even during thepitching or swinging movement imparted by waves, and which may becarried, for example, aboard ship in a life raft or life preserver, orthe like. Also, it is desirable when placed in the open circuit positionthat such pitching or rolling of the ship will not cause the lamp toflash. Various types of switches have been used for such purposes, butin each instance certain deficiencies have been discovered which makethem unsuitable for conditions under which the present type of switchcan be used; For example, in certain types of switches used for thepurposes indicated when assuming a normal open circuit position, thepitching or rolling of the ship causes the mercury contained within theswitch to be splashed, or by impact, thrown out of the bottom of theswitch into the portion of the container in which the contacts arelocated, thus causing momentary closure or the switch and consequentflashing of the lamp. This is particularly undesirable tor the reasonthat where such flashing operation occurs not only is battery energybeing used up against the time when it is needed but at night unwantedattention may be drawn to ships which carry them.

Other types of switches embody a barrier structure forming a part of atrap to maintain the mercury in closed circuit position and whichstructure, while fulfilling such function with a high degree ofeiliciency, nevertheless renders such switch impractical for the usesabove indicated for the reason that when such switches are suddenlyinverted from an open circuit position to the position which theynormally assume upon closing the circuit, the mercury may in thesuddenness oi! the operation so cover the barrier as to form a sealagainst the escapement of gas or air from the contact confined space soas to prevent the flow of mercury into it and the closing of the circuitunder such conditions.

An object or the present invention is to provide an improved switch orthe type herein disclosed which is so formed and constructed as toeliminate such defects as presented above and 2 which are characteristicof known forms of switches of the same general character.

The present invention is directed to the provision or a novel form ofcontainer including an elongated chamber into which spaced electrodesproject and an enlarged off-set chamber in communic-ation therewith, thelatter chamber providing means for retaining a body of mercury when theswitch is in its open circuit condition and the same being soconstructed as to prevent the body of mercury from being thrown into there duced portion of the container leading to the contacts when theswitch is in certain of its positions.

A further object oi! the present invention is to provide a switchcharacterized as immediately above described in which the bottom wallfor the enlarged chamber is provided with means for causing the body ofmercury, when disposed in said chamber,-to lay against the outer wall ofthe enlarged portion of the container so that displacement or the bodyof mercury upwardly is arrested by the upper wall of said enlargedportion, thus further reducing the possibility of mercury beingdisplaced upwardly into engagethe lamp connected in the switch circuit.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide baiiiemeans operatively associated with the enlarged chamber to act as afurther barrier preventing movement of the mercury into the restrictedchamber and into contact with the electrodes.

The present invention further embodies the novel idea of so constructingthe baiiie means as to assure proper flow of mercury from one part ofthe switch to the other, such results being accomplished by theprovision of means in association with the baiile means providing aspace which, upon the rapid inverting of the switch, from an open to aclosed position, prevents the closing 01! by the mercury of the spaceinto which the same is to pass so that gas or air disposed therein mayescape to allow the proper movement of the mercury into its intendedposition with respect to the container.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelbaille means functioning as above set forth and including as a partthereof oppositely disposed fingers spaced with relation to the adjacentwall of the container to assure escapement passageways to preventblocking of the mercury at any point in the switch and the attendantdisadvantages caused thereby,

The present invention further contemplates the provision of such fingersin association with the baille means having a curved formationlongitudinally thereof and which, when the fingers are in engagementwith the adjacent wall surfaces of the container, form definite anddistinct pasair in that part of the chamber of the container into whichthe mercury is intended to flow.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring now to the drawings- Flgure 1 is a diagrammatic view of anelectric torch for use as hereinabove set forth illustrating theposition of the lamp and the improved switch formed in accordance withthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the improved switch in thevertical or closed position and when tilted to the right or left of thevertical to the open position;

Figure 3 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the position assumed by theimproved switch when opened by rotating it to the inverted verticalposition and the amount of tilt necessary from that position to theright or left to close the switch;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank used in forming the bailieincorporated in the switch structure;

Figure 5 is a view in cross section of a baflie formed from the blankshown in Figure 4 of the drawings;

Figure 6 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented byline 6-6 of Figure 2 of the drawings; and

Figure '7 is a view in cross section similar to Figure 6 showing amodified form of construction for the baiile.

As is, well known, it is customary to provide life rafts, dough-nut lifepreservers, buoys, and the like, with various means of illuminationincluding battery supplied electric lamps that will remain inactiveuntil placed in the water. .When battery supplied lamps are employed, itis necessary'to preserve the life of the battery and prevent the switchfrom closing until the illumination of the lamp is necessary. Such liferafts and preservers are usually stored on the outer side of the vesseluntil launched and it is obvious that the torch must be prevented fromflashing by the roll or pitching of the vessel. Such torches have otheruses, such, for example, as to indicate areas where water may bebelieved to exist and are, under such conditions, dropped from planes tomake such determination. Torchesare likewise used aboard ship whereelectric lighting systems may become out of order and are further usedto mark the presence of survivors of sunken ships. In all such instancesthe torch must be provided with a suitable switch to prevent itsflashing or rendered operative until it is desired to use the same inthe manner intended.

As illustrative of a torch used under the conditions above enumerated,reference is made to Figure 1 disclosing torch structure equipped withone or more batteries 2 and a switch 4 made in accordance with theinvention which is interposed in circuit between the battery 2 and anelectric lamp 6. A torch of this type is usually so pivotally mounted ona raft or life preserver that the same may be inverted or rotated intothe plane of the raft orlife preserver until launched and then willautomatically assume a vertical position with the electric lamppositioned above the surface of the life raft or buoy.

The switch 4- as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 is more particularlydisclosed in Figures 2 and 3 and, as there shown, comprises a con- 4talner 8 formed to provide an elongated chamber l0 and an enlargedoff-set chamber I2 communicating therewith. Sealed within the base I ofthe containerand projecting into the chamber it are the spacedelectrodes l8 and I8 adapted to be incorporated in an electrical circuitin-- cluding, for example, the battery 2 and the elec-' tric lamp 6.Disposed within the container 8 i: a body of mercury 20 which, when thecontainer 8 is in a vertical position as shown in Figure 2. of thedrawings, is adapted to contact the electrodes l6 and I8 to close theelectric circuit and to cause operation of the torch.

Figure 2 further diagrammatically illustrates the amount-of movement ofthe switch from its vertical position, either to the right or left,which is necessary to open the circuit in which the same may be placed.As is clearly apparent, such two positions of open circuit aresubstantially greater than degrees from the vertical, thus assuring astructure adapted to maintain closed position under all normal pitchingor rolling of a ship, life preserver, raft or the like, which would beencountered in the use of a torch of the type herein disclosed. Whiletwo positions are shown, it is obvious that the same results obtain uponthe movement of the switch in any direction away from its verticalposition.

When the switch 4 is applied to a life raft or life buoy torch, orthe-like, and the raft or buoy is carried on the outer sides of thevessel, the torch .will be preferably carried in an inverted verticalposition so that the switch will assume theposition shown in the bottomof Figure 3. In order to close the circuit, it is necessary to rotatethe switch from its inverted vertical position either to the right orleft as viewed in that figure to the positions shown in the upper partof the figure, which positions are substantially degrees from the opencircuit position of the switch. It is accordingly clearly apparent thatunder normal operating conditions unwanted closing of the circuit cannotbe readily eifected.

As herein suggested, there are certain conditions which tend to causethe mercury, when the switch is in the position shown at 'the bottom ofFigure 3, to be splashed or, by im act, thrown out of the chamber I2into chamber Ill to cause momentary closure of the circuit andconsequent flashing of the lamp 6. The present improved switch structureembodies an enlarged chamber l2 off-set in respect to chamberlll andwhich has its wall 2| disposed in opposed relation to chamber l0inwardly'and centrally raised, thus forming an annular storage space 22between such raised wall 2| and the outer wall 24 for such chamberwhereby the body of mercury is caused to be positioned against wall 24and substantially in opposed relation to the upper wall 26 for saidchamber I2. This structure is highly desirable in that the upper annularwall 26 serves to prevent movement of the mercury into the chamber l0when the same is caused to be thrown upwardly by pitching of the ship orby impact or the like in various positions of the switch.

In order to assure against the possibility of any portion of the mercurybeing thrown into engagement with the electrodes I6 and i8, the presentswitch embodies in its structure a baflie 28 connected as at 30 to theelectrode i8. This baflle in one of its forms is fabricated from a blanksuch as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings which includes spaced bafllemembers 32 and 34 apertured as at 36 and 38, respectively, and whichbaflle member are interconnected by a central part consisting of bafliemember 45 and the tie elements 42 and 44, the said baiile member 40having uninterrupted surfaces for a purpose to be hereinafter more fullyset forth. Projecting in opposite directions from baiile members 32 and34 are the fingers 49 and 48. The baffle blank as shown in Figure 4 isbent to form the baffle 28 as more particularly shown in Figure 5 of thedrawings whereby the baiile member 49 is interposed between and inspaced relation to the baffle members 32 and 34 and in opposed relationto the openings 35 and 33.

The baiile 29 is positioned within the chamber Ill and is secured byeither the finger 48 or 48 to the electrode I! as shown at 30, the widthof the bailles 32 and 34 being slightly less than the width of chamberiii to provide for a passage between the baffle and the wall forming thechamber III or the container. The baiile as disclosed provides a barrierpreventing splashing oi the mercury into engagement with the electrodesl5 and II and cooperates with the formation of chamber I! to preventsuch contact of the mercury with the electrodes under all normaloperating conditions that would be experienced in the use of a switch ofthe type herein described.

Fingers 45 and 49 are incorporated into the baiiie structure in order toassure proper flow of mercury into and out of chamber Hi, the saidfingers being spaced from the adjacent wall surfaces of chamber iii toprovide escapement ways for passage of gas or air from that portion ofthe chamber l0 into which the mercury is intended to flow. Furthermore.baiiie 28 is of such a construction as to break up the mercury as thesame moves through chamber M to prevent its becoming blocked and suchstructure in combination with the fingers 45 and 49 assures properoperation of the switch under all conditions.

If desired, the fingers 49 and 43 may be curved longitudinally as shownat 50 in Figure 7 of the drawings and disposed so as to contact theadiacent'wall of the container to form a definite passageway 52 which atall times provides an air or gas vent to prevent blocking of the mercurywithin the environment of the baille.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend otherconstructions. arrangements of parts, details and features withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switching device comprising a container, spacedelectrodes sealed therein including a body or mercury adapted to bridgesaid electrodes when said container is in a predetermined position toclose an electric circuit. said mercury being disposed in spacedrelation to said electrodes when said container is in otherpredetermined posltions to open said circuit, and

baiile means disposed within said container including at least anapertured bailie member and a bame member spaced therefrom having anuninterrupted wall disposed in opposed spaced relation to said apertureand being in spaced relation to the adjacent wall of said container,oppositcly disposed fingers projecting perpendicularly from the baillemeans into the container spaces on both sides thereof, and said fingersbeing spaced from the adjacent wall of the container to providetherebetween passageways adapted to serve as a vent for each of saidcontainer spaces into which the mercury is desired to flow.

2. An electric switching device according to claim 1, wherein theoppositely disposed fingers are each formed to provide a longitudinallyextending recess which together with said adjacent wall of the containerform said passageways respectiveiy.

3. An electric switching device according to claim 1, wherein theoppositely disposed fingers are each curved to provide a longitudinallyextending recess which together with the adjacent wall of the containerform said passageways respectively.

4. An electric switching device comprising a container, spacedelectrodes sealed therein including a body of mercury adapted to bridgesaid electrodes when said container is in a predetermined position toclose an electric circuit, said mercury being disposed in spacedrelation to said electrodes when said container is in otherpredetermined positions to open said circuit, and baille means disposedwithin said container comprising a member formed to provide spacedapertured walls and an intermediate wall therebetween having anuninterrupted surface disposed in opposite and spaced relation to saidapertures and being in spaced relation to the adjacent wall of saidcontainer, said member being provided with oppositely disposed fingersprojecting perpendicularly from the baiiie member into the containerspaces on both sides thereof, and said fingers being spaced from theadjacent wall of the container to provide therebetween passagewaysadapted to serve as a vent for each of said container spaces into whichthe mercury is desired to flow.

IRA E. MCCABE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die ofthis patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,391,243 Carpenter Sept. 20, 19211,778,439 Walker Oct. 14, 1930 2,182,218 Btaley Dec. 5, 1939 2,355,013Rochestie Aug. 1, 1944

